Liebich The Darkie Shiraz 2010

Liebichwein is a small, family-owned winery based in Rowland Flat in the southern Barossa Valley, known for its long-standing dedication to traditional Barossa winemaking. The estate has built a strong reputation for producing bold, expressive reds, crafted with minimal intervention and a deep respect for vineyard heritage. The Darkie Shiraz is their flagship bottling, named in tribute to Clarence Walter “Darkie” Liebich, who planted the original vineyard in 1969 on deep black biscay soils.

The 2010 vintage saw excellent conditions across the Barossa, with a moderate crop and ideal ripening, producing fruit of exceptional concentration and balance. The wine was fermented in open vats with hand plunging and basket pressing, then matured in a mix of seasoned American and French oak hogsheads for five years. Bottled without fining or filtration, this release reflects a traditional, full-bodied Barossa style with careful maturation and cellar-aged release.

Now drinking at its peak, the 2010 Darkie Shiraz shows a deep crimson colour with garnet edges. The nose is rich and expressive, offering layers of black cherry, dark chocolate, sweet spice and roasted coffee bean. The palate is broad and full, yet supple, with saturated black fruit, well-integrated oak and a savoury, earthy undercurrent. The tannins are silky and resolved, lending a smooth, persistent finish. A wine of depth, generosity and pedigree, ideally suited to slow-cooked meats, rich stews or aged hard cheeses.